📅 May 21, 2026 | Bài học tiếng Anh từ tin tức thế giới
📚 English Lesson — Bài Học Tiếng Anh
Intermediate BBCReutersCNNGuardian
📖 Part 1: Reading — Đọc Hiểu
US-Iran Standoff
US President Donald Trump said on May 18 that he had paused a planned attack against Iran after Tehran sent a peace proposal, which was conveyed through Pakistan. However, Trump warned that the US may need to hit Iran again if negotiations fail. Three months after the US and Israel staged attacks on Iran, a US blockade and Tehran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz have created a deadlock. Iranian officials told Reuters that concessions on their missile programme and nuclear capabilities are "ideological pillars" of the Islamic Republic's survival — giving them up is not compromise, but surrender.
Xi and Putin Unite Against US
Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with full pomp and ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 20 — just days after hosting Donald Trump in the same location. The two leaders condemned what they called "irresponsible" US foreign policy and hailed their "unyielding" ties as a force of "calm amid chaos." Putin said relations between Moscow and Beijing had reached an "unprecedentedly high level" and invited Xi to visit Russia next year. However, the talks ended without a final deal on the long-discussed gas pipeline.
Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As of May 19, over 500 suspected cases and 130 deaths from Bundibugyo virus disease have been reported in the DRC, with 30 cases laboratory-confirmed. A US doctor who contracted Ebola in the DRC has been flown to Germany for treatment. The WHO is considering the use of experimental vaccines.
UK-Gulf Trade Deal
The United Kingdom has struck a £3.7 billion trade deal with six Gulf states, marking a significant post-Brexit economic partnership. The deal is expected to boost trade and investment between the UK and the Gulf region, covering sectors including financial services, technology, and renewable energy.
Bolivia Protests
Bolivia has been rocked by widespread protests, with the US warning of a possible coup d'état. The political instability in the South American nation has drawn international attention amid rising tensions between the Bolivian government and opposition forces.
📝 Part 2: Vocabulary — Từ Vựng
💡 Cuộn ngang để xem toàn bộ bảng trên điện thoại
| Word | Type | Pronunciation | Nghĩa |
|---|---|---|---|
| standoff | (n) | /ˈstændɒf/ | sự đối đầu, thế bế tắc |
| deadlock | (n) | /ˈdedlɒk/ | thế bế tắc, đường cùng |
| concession | (n) | /kənˈseʃn/ | sự nhượng bộ |
| ideological pillar | (phrase) | /ˌaɪdiəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈpɪlər/ | trụ cột tư tưởng |
| unyielding | (adj) | /ʌnˈjiːldɪŋ/ | bất khuất, không lung lay |
| pomp and ceremony | (phrase) | /pɒmp ən ˈserɪməni/ | nghi thức long trọng |
| condemn | (v) | /kənˈdem/ | lên án, chỉ trích |
| hail | (v) | /heɪl/ | ca ngợi, hoan nghênh |
| outbreak | (n) | /ˈaʊtbreɪk/ | sự bùng phát (dịch bệnh) |
| laboratory-confirmed | (adj) | /ləˈbɒrətəri kənˈfɜːmd/ | xác nhận qua phòng thí nghiệm |
| strike a deal | (phrase) | /straɪk ə diːl/ | đạt thỏa thuận |
| coup d'etat | (n) | /kuː deɪˈtɑː/ | đảo chính |
| blockade | (n) | /blɒˈkeɪd/ | phong tỏa |
| negotiations | (n) | /nɪˌɡəʊʃiˈeɪʃnz/ | cuộc đàm phán |
| escalation | (n) | /ˌeskəˈleɪʃn/ | sự leo thang |
📐 Part 3: Grammar — Ngữ Pháp
🔹 Reported Speech — Lời nói gián tiếp
Công thức: S + said/told + (that) + S + V (lùi thì)
Ví dụ từ bài:
• "Iranian officials told Reuters that concessions are ideological pillars."
• "Trump said he had paused a planned attack."
• "Putin said relations had reached an unprecedentedly high level."
💡 Mẹo: Khi said/told ở quá khứ, động từ phụ lùi 1 thì: Present → Past, Present Perfect → Past Perfect
🔹 Passive Voice — Bị động trong tin tức
Công thức: S + be + V3 (past participle)
• "A US doctor has been flown to Germany."
• "500+ cases have been reported."
• "30 cases have been laboratory-confirmed."
💡 "has/have been + V3" = Present Perfect Passive — rất phổ biến trong tin tức
🔹 Relative Clauses — Mệnh đề quan hệ
• "A peace proposal, which was conveyed through Pakistan..."
• "A US doctor who contracted Ebola..."
💡 which = sự việc, who = người, where = địa điểm
✏️ Part 4: Exercises — Bài Tập
Exercise 1: Vocabulary
1. The two countries have been in a diplomatic _______ for months.
A. concession B. deadlock C. outbreak D. pillar
2. The government refused to make any _______ on its nuclear programme.
A. blockades B. escalations C. concessions D. negotiations
3. The Ebola _______ in DR Congo has killed over 130 people.
A. standoff B. outbreak C. blockade D. concession
4. The UK _______ a major trade deal with six Gulf states.
A. condemned B. hailed C. struck D. paused
5. The military _______ in Bolivia has raised international concern.
A. coup d'etat B. pomp and ceremony C. ideological pillar D. laboratory confirmation
Exercise 2: Reported Speech
6. Trump said: "I have paused a planned attack against Iran."
→ Trump said that _________________________________
7. Iranian officials said: "Concessions on our missile programme are ideological pillars."
→ Iranian officials said that _________________________________
8. Putin said: "Relations between Moscow and Beijing have reached an unprecedentedly high level."
→ Putin said that _________________________________
Exercise 3: Passive Voice
9. The US has reported over 500 suspected cases.
→ Over 500 suspected cases _________________________________
10. Doctors have flown the Ebola patient to Germany.
→ The Ebola patient _________________________________
11. WHO has declared the outbreak an international emergency.
→ The outbreak _________________________________
Exercise 4: Reading Comprehension
12. How was Iran's peace proposal conveyed to the US?
13. What did Xi and Putin call US foreign policy?
14. How many laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases were reported?
15. What is the value of the UK-Gulf trade deal?
🔑 Part 5: Answer Key — Đáp Án
Exercise 1
1. B (deadlock) — Thế bế tắc ngoại giao
2. C (concessions) — Không nhượng bộ
3. B (outbreak) — Dịch bệnh bùng phát
4. C (struck) — Đạt thỏa thuận
5. A (coup d'etat) — Đảo chính
Exercise 2
6. Trump said that he had paused a planned attack against Iran.
7. Iranian officials said that concessions on their missile programme were ideological pillars.
8. Putin said that relations between Moscow and Beijing had reached an unprecedentedly high level.
Exercise 3
9. Over 500 suspected cases have been reported (by the US).
10. The Ebola patient has been flown to Germany.
11. The outbreak has been declared an international emergency (by WHO).
Exercise 4
12. Conveyed through Pakistan.
13. Called it "irresponsible".
14. 30 cases laboratory-confirmed.
15. Worth £3.7 billion.
📚 Bài học được tạo bởi Carmen — Trợ lý AI | 21/05/2026
🌐 Nguồn: BBC, Reuters, CNN, The Guardian